Automobile window mounting



Apnl- 7, 1953 L. s. GREENMUN 2,634,160

AUTOMOBILE WINDOW MOUNTING I Filed Dec. 12. 1947 2 'SHEETS- SHEET 2 36' 13 SL16 6J INVENTOZR.- LEO 5. GREENMUN ATTORNEY channel structure, and

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 f AUNITED STATES PTENTgOFFlSc Y 2,634,160 y AUTOMOBILE WINDOW MOUNTING Leo S. Greenmun, Avocat,y N. Y.4

Applicaties December 12, 1947, serial No; 791,319* f 4-c1aims. (c1. 29e- 44)4 1 This invention relates generally to means for mounting windows in vehicles and the like, and more vparticularly vto means for detachably mounting movable automobile windows so as to permit of their easy removal.

1 Automobile windows are subject to a variety of hazards which often cause the windows to break or shatter. With this in mind, it is desirable that the installation' of a replacement window be a simple and inexpensive matter. In View of the strains to which movable windows are subjected, it is also desirable that the window mounting in a vehicle have a certain degree of iiexibility or resiliency so as to permit the window to` yieldably absorb the ilexure engendered by lateral pressures and out of square conditions.

It is -a primary object of my invention to provide automobile window mounting means which will hold the window securely, yet resiliently, in

place.

Another object of my invention is to provide window mounting means which are readily accessible from the interior of a vehicle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide window mounting means of-a character which will permit the window to be quickly and easily removed `in the event it is damaged.

Other objects and advantages of my invention willr-become apparent during the course of the following description.

I ,In the drawings, accompanying this specifica- Ntion, and forming a part thereof, and in which like numerals Idesignate like parts throughout the same, Y i

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the interior of an automobile door pane1 showing broadly a window regulating mechanism and the window mounting embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the window mounting structure.

, Fig. 3fis a'plan view ofthe spring member which is'an important feature of my invention. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the spring member. f i i i Fig. 5is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. `6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slight modification in the `form of my invention.' f Fig.t7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 1, showing details of the Fig.r8`is an enlarged online 8-.8 of Figpl, showing the 'channel structure.

cross-sectional view taken other details of Referring now more parucmariy to the drawings, in Fig. wl is shown thegeneral arrangement of parts comprising a regulating mechanismioran automobile window I.` The regulator, desig nated generally by the numeral 2, is Ialso eiec tive to operate a Wind deector panel 3.

Briefly, the regulator 2 consists cfa bracket 4 to which is pivotally secured as at 5 'a gear sector 6 which is adapted to be rotated by a complementary gear (not shown) aixed- ,to a crank handle 1, which is also mounted inthe bracket 4.

f The gear sector 6 has formed thereon a ledge or flange 8 to which is connectedl a reinforcing strip or window channel 9 in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The gear sector 6 has also formed thereon a. series of serrations or teeth I0 which are conY various positions, a balance spring I5 is providedv which bears at one end against the bracket 4 and4 bears against the channel 9 at its other end. I

The arrangement and operation of the aforementioned parts are more fully disclosed and described in my copending' application, Serial` No.`

622,032, now Patent No. 2,559,120, to which reference is made for an elaboration of the details. My present invention concerns itself primarily with the mounting structure shown in Figs. 2 to 6;

inclusive. To obtain the desirable mounting characteristics previously referred to, I havel securedto the midportion of the channelV 9,. two knobs I6 which extend verticallyv through operA ings I1 provided therefor in the flange 8. The

knobs IB yare circular in cross-section, but are,

however, of irregular diameter, having a portion.

I8 which seats again-st the underside-of the chan-f nel 9 and a centrally projecting shank I9 which extends/upwardly. through an opening- 20m-the channel 9 and is adapted to be expandedto form a rivet head 2| thereby securingthe knob I6 vto the channel.

Immediately adjacent the bearing portion 23 which iits into the opening I'I of the flange 8.4 Depending. 'centrally from-the; bearing.portion..23 is; athroatportion 24 otreportion I8 is a ta-I* pered section 'Z2V which terminates in a ,circulan 3 duced diameter which ares outwardly to form 1a button 25.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the knobs I6 are spaced longitudinally of the channel 9 and the ange 8. At a point on the underside of the ange 8 between the two knobs I6, but not necessarily midway between them, is pivotally secured, as by a fastener 26, Ia locking spring 21.

A-s best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the spring 21 is formed with an offset provi'ded with an open-v ing 25 which accommodates a bearing portion 30 on the fastener 26. The fastener has a shank 3|, of reduced diameter, which extends upwardly through an opening 32 in the flange `8 and which may be deformed to form a rivet head 33. The spring 21 is held slidably against the undersurface of the ange by a shoulder 34 on the fas.- tener 26.

Each end of the spring 21 is provided'with an open-end slot 35, the openends being on opposite sides of thespring; so that..each slot 35 may Vengage the throat portion 24 of a knob I6 when the spring is rotated from 4the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to the solid line position. The buttons "25 on t'he'rknobs -Ii 'serve to guide the spring 21 i-nto position and also keep the' spring under tension.

The spring A21 is also provided with a recess 3,6v which prevents interference between the spring andthe link I3. A tab `3-1 is formed on one-edge of the spring 21 for convenience in grasping the spring for `the purpose of rotating it.

As seenin Figs. l, 7 and 8, the lower edge of the window I is'held within `the `channel a cushion 38 of rubber, felt or similar material, beinginterposed between the glass and thechannel to prevent chipping.

As the knobs t'are also secured to the channel 9it will -be apparent that the action of the spring 21 against the knobs t6 will yieldably urge the taperedrsection 2.2 of each knob into abutment withfthe'ange -8 and thereby Vmain-tain the window channel 9 in proximity thereto.

With. the channel'thus positioned, the window I- willrotate tov either an open or closed position in response kto rotation ofthe gear sector 6. I-Iov ever, the window mounting is such that the window I is permitted a limited amount of lateral movement, equivalent .to rotation about an axis donned. by va line connecting thetwo knobs i5. Thus thewindow is capable of adjusting itself to compensate for conditions of 4misalignnlent and also is Vadaptecl'to yieldably absorb lateral strains such as might occur when a person accidentally leans against the window.

The window mounting also Vpermits a limited amount of rocking movement of the window relativeto the flange 8. Thus an unauthorized attempt to force -open .the window byapplying downward pressure to its upper edge, will cause the window to rook about a fulorum formed by the knob Il6` which'appears to vthe left in Fig. 1. The forward portion of the window will be raised slightly thereby causing the link I3 to move upwardly and rotate'the trigger AI2 into a position where its teeth. I I mesh. with the teeth Iii on the gear sector 6. It'A and` .Ii 'flocks the gear. sector against. rotation thereby lpreventing further movement of the window. This locking action is more fully described in my copending application, Serial, No. 622,032, to-'which reference has been'previously made.

Itwill. be notedfthat the. spring 21 is pivotally secured` to the' iiange i8 'ata point that is closer to vone of theknobsl than it. is; toithegother.'Y

The interengagementof the teeth This off-center mounting of the spring causes the tension exerted on one of the knobs I6 to be greater than the tension on the other. Thus, in Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the fastener 25 located closer to the knob I6, which appears to the left, so as to encourage the desired rocking movement, previously described, in the event of an attempt to force the window open.

By selecting a predetermined pivotal point for the spring 21, I can either increase or decrease the tension differential between the two knobs I6. Thus I employ only one spring to obtain different degrees of tension on each of the knobs I6.

As best seen in'Fig. 5, the channel 9 is secured to the flange B by rotating the spring 21 to the position shown in solid lines. In the event it becomes necessaryto remove the window for repair or replacement, the spring is rotated to the position shown in dottedY lines, thereby releasing the window quickly and easily and without the use of tools. A slot '39 is provided in the'gear sector 6 to prevent the gear sector from interfering with the rotation of the spring 21,

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which I provide a rib i0 on the flange 3 in order to permit a greater range of flexibility in adjusting the tension exerted by the spring 21 on each of the knobs I6. By shifting the position of fastener 25 to the right, I am able to increase the tension on the right-hand knob I6 while, at the same time, utilizing the stiifening effect of the rib @il to maintain or increase the tension on the left-hand knob I t.'

It will be understood that, although the position of the rib 46 and the fastener 26 are xed in any specific installation, those positions may be so selected or predetermined as to produce the tension on each of the knobs t6 which is desirable under the particular circumstances.

Referring now to Fig. '7, I show means for securing the link I3 to the channel 9, which represent an improvement over the clips provided for this purpose in my copending application, Serial No. 622,032. In order to provide a support for the pin I4, I slit the midportion of the channel 9, longitudinally thereof, for a small portion of its length and bend the pieces, thus formed, outwardly so that they form elongated sides di of the channel S. The sides il may then be pierced to provide openings for the pin it, which extends trans versely through the sides, and from which the link I3 is suspended.

In Fig. 8, I have shown means, similarly formed, for providing a track for the end of the balance spring I5, so as to prevent it from slipping out of the channel 9. In this instance, I slit the midportion of the channel El longitudinally` thereof, forming two parallel spaced slits and leaving a central portion t2 intact. The slit portions'are then bent outwardly to form elongated sides S3 on the channel. The spring vI5 bears against the central portion t2 of Vthe channel 9 and is prevented from slipping out of the channel by the sides 43. l

It is to beunderstood that the forms of my invention herein shown and described represent preferred examples of the same, and that variousV changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my inventionor the scope of the subjoined claims, Having thus described my invention, I claim: y 1. Window mounting means for the movable prising a channel member adaptedto enclose one edge oi said window, a movable support member disposed below said channel member, spaced elements depending from said channel member and projecting through said support member, and means pivotally secured to said support member intermediate said spaced elements'and slidably engaging said projecting portions of said spaced elements to secure said elements against withdrawal from said support member, said spaced elements having their projecting portions provided with surfaces which converge toward said support and with which the pivotal member en gages to place said member under tension.

2. Window mounting means for the movable window panels of automobiles and the like, comprising a channel member adapted to enclose one edge of said window, a movable support member disposed below said channel member, spaced proj ections depending from said channel member and having free ends extending through said support member, said free ends terminating in enlarged heads connected to the projections by conical surfaces converging tovvard the said support and a single tension member secured to said support member intermediate said spaced projections and slidably engaging the conical surfaces of the free ends of each of said projections whereby to resiliently maintain said channel member in proximity to said support member.

3. Window mounting means for the movable window panels of automobiles and the like, comprising a reinforcing strip secured to the lower edge of said window panel, a movable support member underlying said reinforcing strip, spaced elements secured to said reinforcing strip and having portions projecting through said support member, a tension producing element movably secured to said support member and slidably engaging the projecting portions of said spaced elements, and a fulcrum provided on said supporting member and abutting a portion of said tension producing element for increasing the tension exerted by said tension-producing element on one of said spaced elements.

4. Window mounting means for the movable window panels of automobiles and the like, comprising a reinforcing strip secured to the lower edge of said window panel, a movable support member underlying said reinforcing strip, spaced elements secured to said reinforcing strip and having portions projecting through said support member, and a nat -spring pivotally secured to said support member intermediate said spaced elements, but closer to one of the elements than to the other, and movable into locking engagement with the projecting portions of said elements whereby to resiliently maintain said elements against withdrawal from said support member, the tension exerted by said spring on one of said elements being greater than that exerted on the other.

LEO S. GREENMUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 89,659 Hazelton et al May 4, 1869 343,066 Ready June 1, 1886 504,296 Beam Aug. 29, 1893 537.639 Helton Apr. 16, 1895 729,763 Hartmann June 2, 1903 869,040 Albright Oct. 22, 1907 1,039,599 Shank Sept. 24, 1912 1,713,088 Nicholson May 14, 1929 1,951,419 Jacobi Mar. 20, 1934 1,954,268 Simpson Apr. 10, 1934 2,077,454 Almdale Apr. 20, 1937 2,303,170 Morrison Nov. 24, 1942 2,409,068 Roethel Oct. 8, 1946 2,447,990 Roethel Aug. 24, 1948 2,449,000 Merrill Sept. 7, 1948 2,449,210 Faust Sept. 14, 1948 2,479,833 Greenmun Aug. 23, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 775,260 France Oct. 8, 1934 

